Learning guitar can be an incredibly rewarding journey, and one of the best ways to get started is by learning songs you love. If you’re a complete beginner, the prospect of complex chords and fast riffs might seem daunting. But fear not! There are tons of fantastic songs out there that are perfect for beginners, using simple chords and rhythms that will get you playing your favorite tunes in no time. This guide will walk you through 27 of the Easy Tunes To Learn On Guitar, spanning various genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy and master. Get ready to impress yourself and your friends with these accessible and fun songs!
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Want to feel like a rock legend right away? “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is your starting point. This iconic metal anthem is surprisingly simple to learn, built around powerful E, A, and D power chords. You’ll begin with a strong E power chord on the 7th fret, immediately giving you that classic rock vibe. The song features a cool, easy-to-learn hammer-on riff in the same position, followed by those foundational power chords played with a steady down-picking rhythm. Listen carefully to the track to grasp the rhythm, and you’ll soon be headbanging along to one of the most recognizable songs of the 70s. “Paranoid” is a fantastic entry point into rock guitar and a confidence booster for any beginner.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
Capo on the 1st fret required.
For a soulful and emotionally resonant piece, look no further than Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved”. This hit song is excellent for both strumming and singing practice, utilizing the common and beginner-friendly C, G, Am, and F chords. You can start with a slow, repetitive strumming pattern to match the song’s melancholic mood. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try fingerpicking individual strings to add a melodic layer. As you progress through the song, you’ll encounter slight variations like Am7 and Dm7 chords in the bridge. These are easily manageable adjustments from the basic open chords, making “Someone You Loved” a beautiful and accessible song to expand your chord vocabulary.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Transport yourself to the American South with the instantly recognizable riff of “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This fun and iconic track revolves around D, C, and G open chord shapes, making it quickly accessible if you’ve been practicing these essential chords. The riff itself isn’t overly complex, and the more you play it, the faster and more authentically “twangy” your sound will become. A helpful tip is to keep your pinky finger anchored on the 3rd fret of the B string; this positioning will naturally guide your other fingers into the C and G chord shapes. The key to mastering this riff is to play along with the original song, focusing on matching the beat and picking style of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Its loop-like structure makes it incredibly satisfying to play repeatedly, and before you know it, you’ll be playing this classic riff effortlessly.
4. “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
Capo on the 3rd fret required.
“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty, famously covered by artists like John Mayer, is a timeless classic with a simple chord progression perfect for beginners. With a capo on the 3rd fret, you’ll be playing familiar open D, A, and E chords, along with a Dsus4 chord to add a touch of variation. Don’t be intimidated by the name; Dsus4 is simply a D chord with your pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string instead of the 2nd. Versatile enough for both acoustic and electric guitars, “Free Fallin’” sounds fantastic with a clean tone or a bit of overdrive for a classic rock edge. This song is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a great addition to any beginner guitarist’s repertoire.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
For a song that’s both incredibly easy to play and allows you to rock out, look no further than “My Generation” by The Who. This 60s mega-hit is built on just two chords: G and F. Playing these as power chords will give you that signature meaty rock sound, perfect for belting out the iconic roaring vocals during the song’s pauses. While “My Generation” is famous for its bass solo, Pete Townshend’s guitar fills provide excellent cues for you to add your own improvisations. It’s an ideal track for developing your soloing skills as the rhythm and chord structure are straightforward, allowing you to focus on expressing yourself through the guitar.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals is a classic with a bluesy and somber tone, constructed around Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, this song encourages you to pick each note of the chords individually, ascending and descending in pitch to create its distinctive sound. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord, which is simply a C chord with an E note as the bass note. This slight variation is easy to execute and adds depth to the song. You’ll also find E7 and F7 chords, which incorporate 7th notes from the scale, adding tension and richness to certain lines. These are all simple variations on open chords that appear sparingly, making “House of the Rising Sun” an excellent song for exploring arpeggiated patterns and adding emotional depth to your playing.
7. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
If you’re in the mood for some country fun, Billy Ray Cyrus’s “Achy Breaky Heart” is a rootin’ tootin’ tune that’s incredibly easy to learn. This country jam is built on just two chords: A and E. Its simplicity provides ample space for you to experiment with country-style guitar licks using the notes within the A and E open positions. Exploring scales in the key of A will open up opportunities for improvising solos over the song. For those wanting to advance their country guitar skills, “Achy Breaky Heart” is also a great track to practice “chicken pickin'” techniques, adding that authentic country twang to your playing.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
Green Day’s “American Idiot” took the pop charts by storm in 2003 and remains a high-energy, fun song to play on guitar. The main riff is composed of three straightforward power chords in C#, G#, and F# positions, requiring quick transitions between them. At the end of the riff, a short, sharp hit of the open strings signals the vocal entry. The guitar solo in “American Idiot” is also relatively simple to learn, featuring octave shapes played in rapid succession, followed by an easy lick higher up the fretboard. This song is perfect for beginners wanting to learn a modern rock anthem that’s both easy to play and full of energy.
9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
“Don’t worry about a thing,” because Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” is a song you’ll master in no time! This uplifting reggae classic is made up of just three chords – A, D, and E – played with a distinctive reggae beat. While the reggae strumming pattern can be a bit tricky for beginners, starting with a regular rhythm will help you get comfortable with the chord changes. As you progress, you can then focus on incorporating the more complex reggae strumming pattern. “Three Little Birds” is a feel-good song that’s perfect for practicing chord transitions and rhythm.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is practically a rite of passage for guitar players. This groundbreaking grunge anthem features just four power chords. These are played at the 1st fret of the E string, 1st fret of the A string, 4th fret of the E string, and 4th fret of the A string. The rhythm is straightforward, allowing you to play with plenty of grunge attitude. To nail the rhythm, hit the chords a couple of times and fill the spaces with muted strums across the strings. For the verses, simply holding down the 1st fret of the high E and B strings and plucking them replicates the iconic verse melody. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an essential song for any beginner wanting to dive into grunge and rock guitar.
11. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison is an eminently singable and feel-good classic. It’s hard not to be in a good mood while playing this song, thanks to its cheerful G major key. Featuring easy-strumming open G, C, D, and Em chords, it’s a fantastic song for practicing your vocals while playing guitar. Once you’ve mastered the chords and rhythm, challenge yourself with the fun, riff-based intro. “Brown Eyed Girl” is a timeless song that’s perfect for sing-alongs and developing your strumming and singing coordination.
12. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
Capo on the 2nd fret required.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis might be a song that gets mixed reactions, but it’s undeniably a seminal track that every guitarist should have in their repertoire. It’s built upon basic G, C, D, and Em chords, but with a slight twist. Holding down the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings across all chords creates that iconic “Wonderwall” treble-rich tone. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a G transition chord. This simply involves moving from the 3rd fret to the 2nd fret on the low E string while keeping the rest of the chord shape (except for the B and high E strings at the 3rd fret). This G transition chord is played briefly to smoothly transition into the Em chord, a technique you’ll see in many other songs, making “Wonderwall” a great learning opportunity for chord transitions.
13. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
“Zombie” by The Cranberries is a soulful and powerful 90s anthem that’s surprisingly simple to learn, utilizing just four chords: Em, Cmaj7, G, and D. While Cmaj7 might sound complex, it’s essentially the same as an open C chord, just without fretting the 1st fret on the B string. There’s immense satisfaction in belting out “What’s in your heaaaad” while playing through this comfortable and emotionally charged chord progression. “Zombie” is a fantastic song for beginners to explore dynamic playing and powerful vocals.
14. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan/Guns N’ Roses
Originally penned by the legendary Bob Dylan and famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is both easy to play and perfect for sing-alongs. The verse progression is G, D, Am, G, D, C, alternating between Am and C as the last chord in the sequence. The chorus simplifies to a G, D, and C progression, and then it returns to the verse pattern. This song’s straightforward chord structure and repetitive nature make it ideal for beginners to practice chord changes and rhythm while enjoying a classic tune.
15. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band is a true earworm that, despite its catchy melody, is remarkably easy to play on guitar. It consists of just G, Cadd9, and D chords, all beginner-friendly and played in a steady, repeating pattern. As you gain confidence in playing and transitioning between these chords, you can start experimenting with picking individual notes to mimic the song’s bass line and even adding your own guitar licks. “The Joker” is a fun and recognizable song that’s perfect for building chord proficiency and exploring simple melodic playing.
16. “Buck Rogers” by Feeder
“Buck Rogers” by Feeder, a hit from the 2000s, is a catchy and energetic song that’s still a blast to play today. It features a super simple arrangement with an open Em chord and power chords at the 7th and 9th frets of the low E string. This forms the basic rhythm for the verses. The chorus adds another power chord at the 5th fret of the low E string, all strummed with a consistent beat that’s easy to pick up. “Buck Rogers” is a great choice for beginners wanting to learn a modern rock song with simple chord structures and a driving rhythm.
17. “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
As pop-punk as it gets, “All The Small Things” by Blink 182 is a crowd-pleasing smash hit guaranteed to get people singing along. It revolves around a C power chord on the 3rd fret of the A string, a G power chord on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and a power chord in the F position. The strumming pattern is quick to learn, consisting mostly of steady down-picking. Pay attention to the palm mutes (where you dampen the strings with your palm while strumming) in the intro and other slight pauses to get the song’s timing just right. “All The Small Things” is a quintessential pop-punk anthem that’s perfect for beginners to learn power chords and energetic strumming.
18. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol is a soulful, catchy, and remarkably easy song to play on guitar. It features a beautiful melodic riff that’s fingerpicked throughout much of the song, offering a refreshing change from chord-heavy songs. Instead of strumming, you’ll be picking power chord shapes. There’s a slight stretch involved in picking the 5th fret of the A string and the 9th fret of the G string, which is excellent for building hand strength and dexterity. Towards the end of the song, a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – are played in a steady, down-picked fashion to match the vocals. “Chasing Cars” is a beautiful and emotionally resonant song that’s great for developing both fingerpicking and chord transitioning skills.
19. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King is a timeless classic featuring open chords, a fun intro, and unforgettable lyrics. It’s one of those songs that naturally invites everyone to sing along, which is perfect because the C, Am, F, G chord progression is easy to master, allowing you to focus on your vocals. The intro riff’s charm comes from its timing, so listen closely to the original song to capture its feel. For the strumming pattern, aim to stay in time with the beat to match the song’s tempo and overall vibe. “Stand By Me” is a universally loved song that’s fantastic for practicing chord progressions and rhythm.
20. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles is super simple and super classic. Consisting of G, C, G7, and D chords, it’s incredibly quick to learn and strum along with. The G7 chord is a minor variation, simply moving a finger from the 3rd fret to the 1st fret on the high E string. Even better, the strumming pattern is steady and not too complex. “Love Me Do” is an iconic early Beatles track that’s perfect for beginners to learn foundational chords and classic songwriting.
21. “A Horse With No Name” by America
“A Horse With No Name” by America features no difficult chords, but the strumming pattern is slightly different from the usual. The chord progression consists of Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9, all of which are surprisingly easy to play. D6/9 only involves adding one finger, Em9 has you holding the 2nd fret of the high E string instead of the A string, and Dmaj9 is a slight variation of the standard D chord. “A Horse With No Name” is a mellow and atmospheric song that’s great for practicing slightly more nuanced chord variations and rhythmic strumming patterns.
22. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones is a quintessential punk tune that’s incredibly simple, made up of just three power chords. These are located at the 5th fret of the low E string, the 5th fret of the A string, and the 7th fret of the A string – a very easy progression to learn. The key to “Blitzkrieg Bop” is to play it fast and loud! This song is perfect for beginners wanting to dive into punk rock and practice fast power chord changes and energetic downstrokes.
23. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes is built upon three chords, a simple strumming pattern, and soulful vocals. G, Am, and C are all you need to master this 90s hit. The strumming pattern goes from slow to fast within each bar, making it quick to get into the rhythm of the song. “What’s Up?” is a powerful and recognizable song that’s excellent for practicing smooth chord transitions and dynamic strumming.
24. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is a mellow and catchy acoustic favorite. G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C chords create a simple progression that’s quick to learn. The trick to mastering the intro is to avoid full strums initially and instead play the bass notes while sequentially picking the high E and B strings. Soon after the intro, the song transitions to standard strumming. “Good Riddance” is a beautiful acoustic ballad that’s perfect for beginners to practice fingerpicking patterns and gentle strumming.
25. “Circles” by Post Malone
“Circles” by Post Malone is a really fun tune to strum and sing along with. The strumming pattern is very straightforward, and the chords are: Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B. While some of these chord names might look intimidating, they are actually just slight variations of open chords. If you find barre chords like F challenging, you can simplify it by playing it as a power chord or an open F shape. “Circles” is a modern pop hit that’s accessible for beginners and a great way to learn slightly more complex chord names and variations.
26. “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers features a fun, distinctive riff and simple chords. While the verses typically don’t have strummed chords in the original song, strumming works just as well for beginners. Featuring Am, F, C, G, Em, and A chords, it’s very simple to get started. As you improve, you can challenge yourself to learn the iconic riff and play the melody over a backing track. “Otherside” is a recognizable and popular song that’s excellent for practicing chord transitions and exploring iconic guitar riffs.
27. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Capo on the 2nd fret required.
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is a beautiful and slow song with an accessible selection of chords. C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am are all you need to play the entire tune. The key to mastering this song is listening closely to get the timing right, especially in the line “maybe we found love right where we are,” which has a chord change for each word. While this might be a bit tricky at first, with practice, you’ll master it. “Thinking Out Loud” is a romantic and popular song that’s perfect for practicing timing, chord changes, and gentle strumming.
These 27 easy tunes to learn on guitar are just the beginning of your musical journey. By tackling these songs, you’ll build a solid foundation in guitar playing, learn essential chords and strumming patterns, and most importantly, have fun making music! Keep practicing, explore more songs, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you progress. For more guitar lessons and resources, visit learns.edu.vn and continue your musical education!
